In the last two years, the Los Angeles Rams started essentially the same offensive linemen for all 32 games. The only major change was with Austin Blythe replacing Jamon Brown at right guard last season.
This year has not been as kind to the Rams in terms of health and continuity. Joseph Noteboom is out for the year with a torn ACL, while both Brian Allen and Rob Havenstein suffered knee injuries on Sunday.
Those injuries have really tested the Rams’ depth up front this season, especially against the Steelers in Week 10. Looking at the snap counts, Los Angeles had to do a lot of shuffling on the offensive line.
Offense
Allen only played 13 snaps before injuring his knee. He was replaced by Blythe at center, which caused Austin Corbett to step in at left guard. No one on the offensive line played well Sunday, and the injuries only made things worse.
When Havenstein went down late in the game, David Edwards moved to right tackle after already making the switch to right guard to start the game. Coleman Shelton came in and played guard to complete the unit.
Josh Reynolds played more than Cooper Kupp, which is surprising. Kupp was blanked on the stat sheet, failing to catch any of the four targets that came his way. Robert Woods played every offensive snap, while Mike Thomas chipped in three plays.
Todd Gurley played 74 percent of the snaps, which is his third-highest snap share of the season. He only carried the ball 12 times, though, and gained 73 yards. Malcolm Brown and Darell Henderson split the other 20 snaps Gurley didn’t play.
Gerald Everett played more than double the snaps Tyler Higbee did and caught eight passes for 68 yards. Higbee caught three of his four targets for 22 yards. Everett remains the Rams’ best option at tight end.
Defense
The same familiar faces all played every snap. Cory Littleton, Taylor Rapp, Troy Hill, Eric Weddle and Jalen Ramsey never came off the field. Aaron Donald only missed six snaps, getting his usual share of plays off.
Wade Phillips said Clay Matthews wouldn’t play every snap when he returned, and that he did not. Still, he was out there more than 75% of the time and had an impact with 1.5 sacks and a safety. He actually played more than Dante Fowler Jr., which almost no one saw coming. Samson Ebukam played 32 snaps, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was out there for just 10 plays.
Troy Reeder only played nine snaps, continuing what’s been a stretch of very little playing time for him. The Rams love using three safeties at the same time, as Weddle, Rapp and Marqui Christian all played valuable snaps. Nickell Robey-Coleman was on the field for 45 snaps as the Rams utilized nickel and dime packages often.
